Our picks for Tobago’s 3 best beaches

There is more to Tobago than beaches, but it can be difficult to summon the will to make that discovery, such is the attraction of the island’s sea and sand. The cluster of hotels and resorts around Tobago’s southern tip reflect the lure of calm, clear water and the lasting pleasure of lying on a soft pillow of sand. The coastline gets a little more rugged as you head north, but no less beautiful. Whether your preference is for sunning, swimming, surfing, snorkelling, diving, sailing, even dragon boat racing: there’s a beach here for you. Here are some favourites

The most popular beach on the island, Store Bay is the place to meet locals, sample curry crab and dumpling, buy souvenirs or take a glass-bottom boat tour. Courtesy Division of Tourism and Transportation.

Tobago: something special in the water

Pigeon Point Heritage Park

Very few places (especially in the world of tourism) live up to their hype. Not so Pigeon Point. It’s so good, in fact, they get to charge an entrance fee. Of course there are other soft white-sand beaches where you can find food, drink, good swimming and feel like a bona fide island holidayer, but at Pigeon Point you can do that PLUS pack in a day – or week – of water adventure. It’s not an attraction: this is action. Surf, kite-surf, paddle board, kayak – you can do all of these. If you’ve never done it before, the crew at Radical Sports can give you a not-crash course in any of these, kit you out and have you in the water in an hour. The most unexpectedly exquisite thing you can do here is also brought to you by Radical Sports. It is…

The bioluminesence tour. It starts with stars. They come off the edge of your kayak’s paddle, a trail of pin-point stars lighting up the dark water. Dip your hand in. More stars. Magic. Well, actually it’s cold light that comes off of certain kinds of aquatic life, in the case of the Tobago’s southwest coast, it’s emitted by dinoflagellates. Get into the water to turn yourself into a starry outline of yourself. Be aware of your own skill (or lack) with the craft of your choice. There’s abundant opportunity to fall out or off of your conveyance; to crash wildly into the mangrove; to be conked on the head by an oar (yours or someone else’s). Be guided by your guides. They know the currents and tides better.

Pigeon Point. Photo by Chris Anderson

Store Bay

Southwest coast. 11 minutes

One of the Tobago’s busiest beaches but in a good way. Presenting an array of local meals (real food, not snacks) from a variety of vendors all deeply committed to offering almost identical menus. The find-the-longest-line rule does not always apply here: follow you nose and instincts. And whoever has just put out a fresh batch of what you’ve decided on. From here you get the glass-bottom boats to the Nylon Pool, Bucco Reef and No Man’s land.

Store Bay, Tobago. Photo: Celeste Hart

Bloody Bay

Even the approach is beautiful. Close in on the grassy rise that looks a bit like the countryside of colder places and open on to pure Caribbean lush: palest sand and changing shades of blue. The forest is near. Almost at the water’s edge, another pastoral stretch of the Jane Austen variety. All is quiet beauty, so from whence cometh such a savage name? Three theories: a battle circa 1666; a modest slave uprising a hundred years later; red dyewood trees. Pick one.

The sun sets on Mt Irvine Bay, a beach loved by surfers and snorkellers alike. Photograph courtesy The Division of Tourism and Transportation.

No Man’s Land is a spit of white coral-sand that fronts parts of the impenetrable mangrove
of Bon Accord Lagoon, just across rom the Nylon Pool. It is accessible only from the sea. Courtesy The Division of Tourism and Transportation.

A dip at No Man’s Land! The warm waters and silky sands of Tobago’s coastline can be explored by sea – on a jet ski, dinghy, glass-bottom boat or catamaran. Courtesy The Division of Tourism and Transportation.

Pigeon Point is the perfect place to watch the sun set. Photograph by Hugh Stickney

The most popular beach on the island, Store Bay is the place to meet locals, sample curry crab and dumpling, buy souvenirs or take a glass-bottom boat tour. Courtesy Division of Tourism and Transportation.

The old men and the sea: fishermen and villagers help bring in fish-laden nets (known as ‘pulling seine’). Courtesy The Division of Tourism and Transportation

You can volunteer to help protect Leatherback turtles from poachers by patrolling Turtle Beach with Save our Sea Turtles Tobago (SOS). Courtesy of The Division of Tourism and Transport.

The iconic jetty at Pigeon Point. Photo courtesy TDC

Castara beach. Photo by Chris Anderson

Charlotteville, Tobago. Photo by Chris Anderson

Pigeon Point in the foreground with the airport and other Crown Point area beaches in the background. Photo by Stephen Broadbridge

Charlotteville. Photo by Ariann Thompson/MEP Publishers

The clear, warm waters of Parlatuvier offer great swimming. Photo by Martin Farinha

Batteaux Bay near Speyside. Photo Oswin Browne

Pigeon Point. Photo by Peter Sheppard

Sunset at Sandy Point. Photo by Ariann Thompson/MEP Publishers

Lover’s Bay is a hidden gem accessible only by boat. Photo by Nyla Singh

Pigeon Point. Photo by Chris Anderson

One of our favourites, a view of placid Parlatuvier. Photo by Chris Anderson

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